Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Children and Adolescents Aged &lt;18 Years with Monkeypox — United States, May 17–September 24, 2022
Authors: Ian Hennessee, Victoria Shelus, Cristin E. McArdle, Maren Wolf, Sabrina Schatzman, Ann Carpenter, Faisal S. Minhaj, Julia K. Petras, Shama Cash-Goldwasser, Meghan Maloney, Lynn Sosa, Sydney A. Jones, Anil T. Mangla, Rachel E. Harold, Jason Beverley, Katharine E. Saunders, Jeremy N. Adams, Danielle R. Stanek, Amanda Feldpausch, Jessica Pavlick, Megan Cahill, Victoria O’Dell, Moon Kim, Jemma Alarcón, Lauren E. Finn, Maura Goss, Monique Duwell, David A. Crum, Thelonious W. Williams, Katrina Hansen, Megan Heddy, Krystle Mallory, Darby McDermott, Mervin Keith Q. Cuadera, Eric Adler, Ellen H. Lee, Amanda Shinall, Carlen Thomas, Erin K. Ricketts, Tammy Koonce, Dana B. Rynk, Kelly Cogswell, Meagan McLafferty, Dana Perella, Catherine Stockdale, BreeAnna Dell, Mellisa Roskosky, Stephen L. White, Kenneth R. Davis, Rania S. Milleron, Skyler Mackey, L. Anna Barringer, Hollianne Bruce, Debra Barrett, Marisa D’Angeli, Anna Kocharian, Rachel Klos, Patrick Dawson, Sascha R. Ellington, Oren Mayer, Shana Godfred-Cato, Sarah M. Labuda, David W. McCormick, Andrea M. McCollum, Agam K. Rao, Johanna S. Salzer, Anne Kimball, Jeremy A. W. Gold, Rick Berumen, Giorgio Cosentino, Shiffen Getabecha, Carol Glaser, Kaitlin Grosgebauer, Kathleen Harriman, Monica Haw, Amanda Kamali, Chantha Kath, Elissa H. Kim, Linda S. Lewis, Darpun Sachdev, Maria Salas, Cameron Stainken, Debra A. Wadford, Philip J. Peters, Akanksha Vaidya, Susan Hocevar Adkins, ; Nicolle Baird, Lisa C. Barrios, Amy Beeson, Dawn Blackburn, Brian F. Borah, Eleanor Click, Whitni Davidson, Romeo R. Galang, Kaitlin Hufstetler, Helena J. Hutchins, Athena P. Kourtis, Maureen J. Miller, Sapna Bamrah Morris, Emily O’Malley Olsen, Nicole M. Roth, Emily Sims, Kevin Chatham-Stephens
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2022)

Data on monkeypox in children and adolescents aged <18 years are limited (1,2). During May 17–September 24, 2022, a total of 25,038 monkeypox cases were reported in the United States,† primarily among adult gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (3). During this period, CDC and U.S. jurisdictional health departments identified Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections in 83 persons aged <18 years, accounting for 0.3% of reported cases. Among 28 children aged 0–12 years with monkeypox, 64% were boys, and most had direct skin-to-skin contact with an adult with monkeypox who was caring for the child in a household setting. Among 55 adolescents aged 13–17 years, most were male (89%), and male-to-male sexual contact was the most common presumed exposure route (66%). Most children and adolescents with monkeypox were non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black) (47%) or Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) (35%). Most (89%) were not hospitalized, none received intensive care unit (ICU)–level care, and none died. Monkeypox in children and adolescents remains rare in the United States. Ensuring equitable access to monkeypox vaccination, testing, and treatment is a critical public health priority. Vaccination for adolescents with risk factors and provision of prevention information for persons with monkeypox caring for children might prevent additional infections.